Fabric or material and the manufacture thereof



"Patented June 4, 1929.

THOMAS cLIrroRn woopm, or rnnnme'ron, Ann WILLIAM ALnxAN'nnR n-rcxm, or sronnou, NEAR DERBY, ENGLAND, sssreuons 'ro cnmmnsn ccRroRA'rIoN or AMERIon, A CORPORATION or DELAWARE.

FABRIC OR MATERIAL"AND THE MANUFACTURE THEREOF.

vNo. Drawing. Application filed DecemberB, 1925, Serial No. 74,183, and in Great Britain January 10, 1925.

1e lulose or other esters or ethers of cellulose (or mixtures of such cellulose derivatives) alone or associated with silk, cotton, wool, artificial filaments or fibres of the cellulose type or other fibres or filaments, or fabrics made of such yarns or threads woven, knit-- ted or associated with yarns or threads of such other filaments or fibres, are subjected to heat and pressure (without or withemployment or application of plasticizing or softening agents or solvents of the cellulose derivative or derivatives),-thereby produc ing a greater or less melting efiect on the filaments or fibres of the cellulose derivative or derivatives by the actionofthe heat and pressure, so that the pores or interstices of the fabric are reduced to extremely minute dimensions, or closed completely.

The extent of the meltingefiect and the degree of closing of the pores or interstices of the fabric, that is to say the degree of permeability of the fabrics produced, can

vary with the degrees of heat and pressure employed and with Whether plasticizers or softeners or solvents are employed, or other circumstances.

Thus for example the heat-and pressure (with or Without employment or assistance of plasticizing or softening agents or solvents) may be such as to close or reduce to minute dimensions the pores orinterstices of the fabric and produce a glazed Water resisting or even a gas resisting face or faces thereon Without causing the filaments or fibres of cellulose derivative or. derivatives to coalesce or disappear. @r the heat and pressure (with or Without employment or assistance of plasticizing or softening agents or solvents) may be such as'to cause the'fila'ments or fibres of cellulose derivative or derivatives to melt and coalesce partly or entirely. on the face or faces of the fabric or throughout its substance.

It is to be understood that the conditions of heat, pressure and duration of pressure the pressure required to produce a given effeet and vice versa,.or again, the same conditionsof heat and pressure may be applied for more or less time to produce the efiect in a more or less pronounced degree.

The degree of melting effect may be in- I creased or accentuated by the employment of plasticizing or softening agents or SQL vents as referred to, and it is to beundei stood that. such agents or solvents may be applied to the fabric before the ap lication' of the heat and pressure or may eincorporated in the filaments or fibres of the cellulose derivatives themselves in the production thereof, for example by employing such agents in the spinning solutions.

Any known plasticizing or softening agents or high boiling or relatively high boiling solvents of the cellulose derivative' or derivatives may be employed. As some instances there may be mentioned for example triacetinfparatoluene sulphonainide or its derivatives, diethylphthalate, and paratoluene sulphonanilide, high boiling al kylated xylene-sulphonamide derivatives or preparations .(for instance monomethyl Xylene sulphonamide), and so forth.

As the melting efiect is increased or ac centua-ted by the plasticizing or softening,

agents or solvents, one can employ less heat or/and pressure or a shorter application of heat and pressure Ior the productionof given efiect when such agents or solvents are employed. I

lhe fabrics employed may consist Wholly of yarns or threads of the cellulose derive? tive or derivatives (cellulose esters or ethers} or may consist partly of such yarns" 01" tate or other cellulose ester or etherin the Warp and with 'a back or Weft of cotton,

ool, silk, cellulose, or any other vvell known texture or yarns ofpellulose acetate or other earner QFEICE.

cellulose ester 'or ether may be mixed in both warp and Weft with yarns of such other fibre or fibres; or any other suitable arrangement or combinationof yarns of cellulose acetate or other cellulose ester or ether with yarns of such other fibre or fibres may be employed in the fabrics. I

Or again yarns or threads may be employed consistingof filaments or fibres of the cellulose derivative "or derivatives doubled or associated with such other filaments or fibres, and the fabrics may consist wholly of such .compound yarns or threads or partly of same and partly of yarns or threads of the other textile fibres or filaments. v,

The invention is particularly applicable to the treatment of fabrics made of or con taining cellulose acetate, and, will hereinafter be described in this connection, it being understood however that other cellulose esters or ethers may be employed as before in.- dicated.

The heat and pressure may be applied in any appropriate manner tothe fabrics, for

example by passage between heated pressure rollers, or between a heated roller and a heated or cold plate or surface, or by pressure between heated plates or between a heated plate and a cold plate or surface, or by passing the fabric under tension over a single heated roller, e. g. a calender roller, or in any other appropriate way, the conditions of temperature, pressure and duration of pressure being variable with the extent of the melting effect to be produced on the filaments or fibres of cellulose acetate or other cellulose derivatives, and with whether plasticizers, softeners or solvents are em In cases where the fabr c IS'DZtSStZd under tension over ployed, or other circumstances.

a single heated roller, the roller may with advantage be rotated in an opposite direc-- tion in the travel of the fabric.

The manner in which the invention may be carriedinto effect can be illustrated by the following more detailed description, it being understood that the forms or examples described are given only by way of illustra tion and can be varied widely withoutde-' parting from the spirit of the invention.

Fabrics entirely of cellulose acetate.

A fabric made entirely from cellulose ace tate yarn, such for instance as a jap or tabby weave fabric, or a warp knitted fabric, may be subjected to heat and pressure alone, to give a fabric possessing desired degrees of resistance to penetration by water or gases, according to the temperature a'ndpressure and duration of the pressure, the conditions of heat, pressure and time being interdependent. The less heat the greater or the longer pressure required to produce a given effect, and vice versa, or

again, the sameconditionsof heat and pressure may be applied for more or less time to produce the effect in a more or less pronounced degree.

Thus for example a cellulose acetate fabric such as referred to may be pressed between smooth plates at a temperature of about 100 C. under a pressure of about 500 lb. per square inch for about 5 minutes, to give a fabric substantially waterproof, very supple and rubber-like in its texture and capable of being sewn and manipulated similarly'to an ordinary fabric; such a fabric retains the structure of the woven fabric, but the surfaces become highly glazed, the trans 'lucencv much increased, and. the interstices in the fabric become so greatly reduced in' dimensions that surface tension effects produce waterproof qualities. By increasing or reducing any or all of the factors; heat, pressure and duration of pressure, the degree of melting effect on the cellulose acetate fore mentioned. By way of example the fabric may be passed slowly through heated calender rollers at temperatures between be obtained by pass-.

This method has the advantage of The conditions of hea about 100 and 180 C. under pressures of from about 300 to 600 lb. or more per square inch, according to the degree of melting effect and impermeability desired in the fabric. The fabric may be passed repeatedly between the heated rollers if desired, according to the degree of effect required.

Or the fabric may be passed under tension over a-single heated calender roller, which may with advantage be rotated in an opposite direction to the travel of the fabric.

Or again, the fabric may be passed once or repeatedly between a heated roller and a cold roller or platen or pressed once'or repeatedly between a heated plate and a cold plate so that in either case the effect is produced chiefly on one face of the fabric.

' As before mentioned the fabri (Ts employed for the purpose of the invention may be treated with' plasticizing or softening agents or solvents of the cellulose derivative or derivatives before being subjected to the heat and pressure.

to water is desired or for obtaining gas proof properties By way of example a .cellulose acetate fabric may be first treated with small quantities of water-insoluble,

This is' especially of advan- 'tage where a high degree of impermeability vents'of cellulose acetate before being subjected to the heat and pressure, These quantities may vary for instance from about 1% to about 30% of the-total quantity of cellulose acetate in the fabric, but more or less may be employed. The non-volatile plasticizers, softeners or solvents may be applied in any appropriate way, for examp e dissolved in a olatile solvent thereof which is a non-solvent of the cellulose acetate. -A suitable plasticizer or softener for cellulose acetate is, for instance, monomethylxylcne sulphonamide and a suitable volatile vehicle is for instance coal tar vbenzole. For the treatment of a cellulose -acetate fabric suitable proportions could befor example for each 100 grams of cellulose acetate fabric about 20 grams of monomethylxylene sulphonamide dissolved in 100 grams of benzol,

the proportions of the non-volatile plasti--' cizer and the volatile solvent thereof being such that together they make a non-solvent mixture for the cellulose acetate. The mixtureis distributed over the fabric by dipping, spraying or in other well known ways. \Vhen the volatile solvent of the plasticizer or softener evaporates, the plasticizer remains distributed uniformly on the fabric, with partial absorption by the cellulose acetatel Heat and pressure are then applied to cause more or less solution or melting of the cellulose acetate of the fabric, thus closing the interstices and producing a fabric resistant to penetration by water or it may be to gases, according to the degree of dissolvingor melting effect etc. produced on the cellulose acetate by the conditions of heat and pressure employed.

The heat and pressure may be applied by any suitable means such as before referred to, and as the melting effect on the cellulose acetate fibres or filaments is increased or accentuated by the plasticizers, softeners or solvents, less heat or/and pressure, ora shorter application of pressure, will suffice for the production of a given effect than in the case of fabrics not treated with or containing f-the same.

fc'gmpaaa fabrics.

. *Ks' mentioned we do not confine ourselves ito" fabrics composed entirely of yarns'orjithreads of cellulose acetate or other cellulose esters or ethers. We have found considerable advantage to be gained by employing fabrics, which, after treatmentof the cellulose acetate (or other cellulose ester or ether) component, will have the backing or support of another material. '1

1 cellulose or any other well known texture of woven orknitted composite fabrics could a support or backing of the non-acetate has for instance a fabricican be employed composed". of cellulose acetate yarn in the warp and with a back or weft of silk, wool, cotton,

of heat or pressure or the plasticizers, softeners, solvents, etc., used. Or better. still, cellulose acetate can be mixed in both warp and weft with such other fibre or fibres, so that after the treatment a backing or support remains which has been unaffected or substantially unaffected by the treatment. 1

As'an example, good effects can be obtained on a warp-faced satin material, in which the warp is composed of cellulose acetate yarn, with the weft or backing of silk or cotton.

Or the warp may contain some silk, Wool, cotton, cellulose or other ends cr'yarns, for example one in every two, four, six, eight, ten, twenty, etc. The .weft may be sim ilarly disposed by checking. Or any other suitable composite fabric may be em-I ployed composed of cellulose acetate yarns in any suitable alternation or interposition with yarns of silk, wool, cotton, cellulose or other fibres, whether in warp or weft or both warp and weft or otherwise. It will be understood that many forms or designs be employed without departing from the invention. p

.The composite fabrics may be' subjected to the heat and pressure between heated plates or rollers or betweena hot roller and a -cold roller or platen or by passage under tension over a heated calender roller, or in othersuitable way, with or Without employment :of plasticizing or softening agents or solvents as referred to. and the heat and pressure or heat, pressure and duration of pressure may be adapted to cause any desired degree of melting of the cellulose. acetate (or other cellulose ester or ether) component and of closing of the pores or interstices of the fabric, whether while retaining the structure of the cellulose acetate yarns in the fabric, or if required while caus ing more or less complete melting and disappearance or merging of the cellulose acetate or other cellulose ester or ether in the fabric so as to leave a film of cellulose acetate v ('or other cellulose ester or ether) united to arns. v

It is also to be understood that mixtures of cellulose esters and/or ethers may be em ployed in the yarns or threads em loy ed in the fabrics, or that fiilaments or fi res spun from mixed solutions of the cellulose. esters or ethers may be employed for the fabrics. The invention is very suitable for the production of waterproof fabrics, or fabrics presenting glazed or cir or moir or like ornamental or other efiects. It may be employed with great advantage for making gas proof fabrics suitable for airships or for other gas containers. For making gas proof fabrics it is preferable to employ or treat the fabrics with plasticizing or softening agents or 501- Vents prior the pp ication of 1 Pressure.

yarns of said other fibers being preferably employed in close alternation with those of the cellulose acetate or other cellulose esters or ethers; for instance woven fabrics may with advantagebe employed in which a yarn impermeability of the -mat'erial.

of the other fibre succeeds each yarn of cellulose acetate in the warp or weft or in 'both warp and weft. We do not however limit ourselves in this respect and any suitable composite fabrics may be employed.

While nitro cellulose filaments or fibres may be employed for the yarns or threads used in the fabrics, this is less advantageous on account" of the inflammability of nitro cellulose. The term softening agents in the claims is used to include both plasticizers and solvents for! the cellulose derivatives em.- ployed. v

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. Process for the manufacture of i. sheet material which comprises subjecting a fabric containing filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose to heat and pressure, thereby softening said derivative and increasing the impermeability of thematerial.

2. Process-for the manufacture of sheet material, which comprises subjecting a fabric containi-ngfilaments having a basis of a cellulose ester" to heat and pressure, thereby softening said ester and increasing the 3. Process for the manufacture of shee material, which comprises subjectin a fabric containing filaments having a asis of cellulose acetate to heat and pressure, thereby softening said acetateand increasing the impermeability of .the material.

4, Process for the manufacture of sheet material having waterproof to gasproof properties, which comprises subjecting afabric containing filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose to pressure betweenheated rolls, thereby softening said derivative and increasing the 'impermeability of the material.

5. Process for the manufacture of sheet material having waterproof to gasproofproperties which comprises subjecting a fab ric containing filaments having a basis of a cellulose ester to pressure between heated rolls, thereby softening the cellulose ester and increasing the impermeability of the material.

, 6. Process for the manufacture of sheet material having waterproof to gasproof aving a basis of 9. Process of treating fabric. containing properties which compri subjecting a fabric containing filaments "cellulose acetate to pressure between heated rolls, thereb softening the cellulose acetate,

and increasing the impermeability of the filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic],- derivative of cellulose, which comprises treating the fabric with asoftening agent for the cellulose derivative', and subjecting the fabric to the action of heat and pressure, thereby increasing the impermeability of the material.

10. Process of treating fabric containing filaments having a basis of cellulose acetate to produce material of waterproof to gasproof properties, which comprises treating the fabric with a softening agent .for the acetate, and subjecting the fabric to the action of heat and pressure.

11. Process of treating fabric containing filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose, which comprises treating the fabric with a solution of a softening agent for the cellulose derivative in 'vola tile solvents which are non-solvents of the cellulose derivative, and subjecting the fabric to the action of heat and pressure, thereby increasing the impermeability of the material.

12. Process of treating fabric containing filaments having a basis of cellulose acetate to produce material of waterproof to gasproof properties, whichcomprises treating the fabric with a solution of a softening agent for the acetate in volatile solvents which are non-solvents of the acetate, and

subjecting the fabric to the action of heat and pressure.

13. Process'of treating fabric containing filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose to produce material of waterproof to gasproof properties, which consists in treating the fabric with a softening agent for the cellulose derivative, and subjecting the fabric to pressure between heated rolls.

14. A sheet materialconsisting of a fab ric containing filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of cellulose, said filaments where. exposed on at least one of the faces of the fabric being flattened and constituting a glazed surface "of increased impermeability.

15. A sheet material consisting of a fabric containing filaments having a basis of a cellulose ester, said filaments where exposed on at least one of the faces of the fabric being flattened and constituting a glazed surface of increased impermeability.

16. A sheet material consisting of a fab-i ric containing filaments having a basis of a cellulose acetate, said filaments where exposed on at least one of the faces of the fabric being flattened and constituting a glazed surface of increased impermeability.

17. A sheet material consisting of a mixed fabric comprising filaments having a basis of a thermoplastic derivative of eel-- lulose and also comprisin fibres of non-- thermoplastic material, sai filaments where- I exposed on at least one of the faces of the fabric being flattened and constituting a cellulose acetate filaments, having increased impermeability, and glazed on at least one 30 of its faces.

In testimony whereof we have hereunto subscribed our names.

THOMAS CLIFFORD WOODMAN. 7 WILLIAM ALEXANDER DICKIE. 

